Hatton told to cancel Castillo or lose IBF title

Ricky Hatton has yet to lose a fight but he faces being stripped of the International Boxing Federation world light-welterweight title he regained 11 days ago if he goes ahead with a proposed match with the former world lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo in June.

The IBF is demanding that Hatton instead fights the winner of Sunday's contest between two Australia-based light-welterweights, Naoufel Ben Rabah and Lovemore N'dou, and identified by the ruling body as its final eliminator.

Marian Muhammad, the IBF's president, said: "I did send a letter to Hatton advising him that he needs to let us know by close of business today [last night] whether he is going to fight Naoufel Ben Rabah or Lovemore N'dou, or whether he is going to vacate the championship and fight Jose Luis Castillo in June."

Hatton-Castillo is already pencilled in as a Las Vegas attraction, making the IBF's decision all the more bizarre. But Muhammad insisted it was taken in accordance with rules. Juan Urango, Hatton's opponent 11 days ago, was given exemption from a mandatory defence against Ben Rabah or N'dou to take the money-spinning Hatton match, but the IBF says there cannot be another. "If Ricky says he is going to fight Castillo next," she said. "I will have to vacate the title."

Dennis Hobson, Hatton's manager, said: "I am not getting litigious about this but you have to defend yourself and the IBF cannot do what they are saying. We have an offer on the table for us to fight Castillo in June, and it is 90% certain that is the way we will go.

"It may be that we could take a mandatory at the Manchester City ground in the summer and then fight Castillo next."